Hungarian fighter jets were scrambled Saturday after a Cathay Pacific Airways flight bound for London triggered a NATO alert by temporarily losing communication over Romanian airspace. The Airbus A350-1000 failed to establish contact at one point, prompting the alliance to activate a "quick reaction alert" and intercept the aircraft.
Cathay Pacific confirmed Wednesday that the incident is under investigation. The airline stressed that the safety of the aircraft and everyone on board was never compromised during the episode. Neither the carrier nor NATO has disclosed the duration of the communication failure or the exact cause.
The quick reaction alert system is designed to respond to potential airborne threats or anomalies in NATO airspace. Such incidents are rare for commercial flights but can trigger military responses as a precautionary measure when contact is lost, particularly in sensitive regions near alliance borders.
Aviation analysts note that temporary communication failures, while unsettling, are not uncommon and often stem from technical glitches or crew procedural errors. The investigation will likely focus on the aircraft's communication systems and cockpit protocols to prevent a recurrence.
No further details on the flight's passengers or specific routing have been released.